Magazine fire-arm



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x (No Model.) I. l y P. A. ALTMAIBR.

` MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.

N0.370,0s2. Patented Sept. zo, 1887.

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P. A. ALTMAIBR.

MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.

No. 370,032. Patented Sept. 20, 1887.

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MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.

Patented Sept. 20, 1887,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

PETER A. ALTMAIER, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,032, dated Septemberv 20, 1887. Application filed April 8, 1887. Serial No. 234.174. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER A. ALTMAIER,of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Breech-Loading and Magazine Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, formingapart of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

rllhis invention relates to improvements in magazine-guns of the class shown in my Pati ent No. 343,833; and it consists in the novel and improved constructions, combinations,

and arrangements of parts, as hereinafterfull y i described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustratingV Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, represent detachedv parts of the feeding and locking mechanisms. Figs. 1l and l2 are side views ofthe gun,show

ing the plate covering the feeding-oriflce- Figs. 13 and let are detail views of the covering-plate.

Similar letters of reference in the several iigures indicate the same parts.

In illustrating the application of my present inventions I have shown them as applied to a gun having the general characteristics of that described in 'my prior patent, No. 343,883.

The letter A designates the breech-frame; B, the barrel; C, the reciprocating carrier; C', the breech-block; F, the hammer; f', thelocking-hook5 G and D, the lockinglevers5 E, the hand-lever, and N the cartridge-lifter.

The carrier C, arranged to slide in Ways beneath the barrel, is formed with a longitudinal perforation or opening to receive the cartridges and a vert-ical slot or opening, c, immediately in front of the breech-block,through which opening the cartridges are transferred by `the lifter N-and deposited or held in posi tion for insertion in the barrel. The front end, c', of the carrier is reduced, so as to lit Within the rear end of the magazineltube B', and an opening or slot, S, is formedin theside of the carrier, through which the cartridges are inserted, as hereinafter explained.

The hand-lever E, pivotally supported at e in the breech-frame, is provided with a shoul` der, e, engaging the locking-lever D to lock and release the carrier.

Beneath the carrier O is detachably secured aplate, 1, whose forward end may be attached to the carrier, as by screw 2, passing through a lug, 3, while its rear end is supported be tween lugs 4 and on pin 5. This plate l is provided with a slot, 6, extending downward toward the rear,as shown more clearlyin Fig. 7. The forward or shorter end of the hand-lever E is bifurcated to receive this plate 1, and is provided with a pin, 7,-passing through the slot 6. O11 one side of the plate 1 the end of the lever E is provided with a shoulder, 8, and notch 9, cooperating with the hooked end 10 of locking-lever G', while on the other side is formed a cam or toe, 11. Supported so as to oscillate on pin 5 is a link or lever, 12, for actuating the cartridge-lifter, the forward end, 13, of said lever being provided or formed with a curved surface for co-operating with the lever E, as hereinafter described, while its rear end is furnished with a curved bearing, 14, upon which the lifter N rests, the latter being held in place by a pin, 15, passing through a slot or opening, 16, in the lever. A pin, 17, on the side of the lever 12, co operating with shoulders 18 and 19 on lug 4, serves to limit the` throw of the lever, and a spring, 20, fastened at its rear end to the lever and provided with an edge or shoulder, 21, cooperating with the oppositely-inclined faces of a cam or projection, 22, on lugs 4, serves to throw the leverl up or down as the shoulder on the spring bears against either face of the cani 22.

It will be observed that the plate 1, lugs 4, and lever 12 are centrally located beneath the carrier, so as to reciprocate between the arms of the locking-lever D. The carrier N rests looscly upon the curved end of the lever 12, and it is guided in its vertical movements by a rib, 23, cooperating with guides on the in ner wall of slot c in the carrier C.

The devices described constitute the whole IOO of the feeding mechanism, and its action is as follows: When `the gun is in condition to .be

- fired, the parts remain as shown in Fig. 1

' to be inserted within the barrel, the hand-ley ver is drawn backward to advancethe breechp that is to say, the carrier C is at the eXtreme of lits forward movement, the breech-block is held against the barrel, the locking 'devices (of vany approved form) are in position, the hand-lever is elevated and held against the stock, with the pin 7 in its forward end resting in the lower end of slot 6 in the plate 1, the lever 12 is held by the spring'20 in a position substantially `parallel with the under side of the carrier, and the lifter N is depressed below the opening in the -carrier and lies in position to receive the rearmost cartridge. If, now, the hand-lever is depressed, the pin 7 will, as it is elevated, engage "the rear wall of the slot 6 in plate 1, and, acting thereon, Awill move Vthe carrier back until the toe 111 'isy brought in'to 'contact with the inclined lower` face of lever 12, when the pressure'of the le? ver upon the carrier 'to force the latter back will be transferred from the pin 7 and plate l tothe toe l1 and end 13 of lever 12. The lforward motion of thehand-lever'being continued, the toe 1l, as lit vifbrates upon the pivot, isl

The carrier and'breech-block have nowbeen retracted sufcientlyto uncover the'slotc inthe carrier,and as the hand-lever continues to lmove forward the pin 7is moved down in slot `6,'and'the toe 11, nowhearing upon the upper surface of -lever 12, presses the forward 'endof said lever down,'therebyelevating the lifter N, vand with it 'the cartridge, which latter is heldin position in rear yof the barrel until by the vforward movement of the breech-block itsfo'rward end :is thrust linto the'barrel. The lifter -N, v'together with the cartridge lying upon it, is held in this elevated position'by thev spring 20, whose end 21, having been carried acrossv the point of cam 2,2 on lugs 4 by thetiltingf'of lever 12, 4to which Ait is attached, now 'bears' upon theupper-face of'said cam l22. The eartridge having been thus elevatedintoposition block and forcethecartridge into the barrel.

As the forward, now upper, end of thehand-f lever moves upward the toell leaves the lever 12. and the pin 7, bearing against the'front [wall of slot 6, forces the carrier forward, 'the pin 7 first rising and then descending within the slot. N o movements of the carrier'take place untilthe pin 7 has arrived at or near the upper end of slot 6, anddurng this interval the lifter N remains elevated.

The lifter N is grooved longitudinally on its upper surface to retain and hold the cartridge centrally in line with the bore of the barrel, and its front end is slightly curved downward, as show-n. A slot or recess, `30, is formed under the rear end of the barrel (when, as in the present instance, the barrel is provided with a square or dat base resting above the carrier) to receive or accommodate the front end of the lifter; or, if preferred, the front end of the lifter may be cut away, as in my said'prior patent, the purpose and obj ect of this arrangement being to permit a limited forward movement of the carrier to insert the cartridge while the lifter remains in its elevated position. Thus, when the pin 7 takes a bearing againstjthe front wal-l rof the slotf, near the upper endthereof, the carrier will be'advanced, 'the lifter being retained in Vposition by the spring`20 until the'end 13 oflever12 is brought vinto contact with the hand-lever E at a point between the pivot and toe 11. This action takes place at ora-bout-the time the pin 7 begins descending the slot 6, at which time the movement ofthe carrier `is more rapid thanthe descent of the forward end of the hand-lever, since, as the'latter is carried 'forward and'downyward, tue end 13 of the lever 12 is drawn over and forced upward by 'thel curved surface 3L of the hand-lever. [In this way a quick but.

positive'movementis given to the lever 12 for effecting the withdrawal of the lifter from -between lthe barrel an'dbreech-block as the 'latter isadvanced. This action ofthe hand-lever upon the lever 12 continues until the end ofthe spring 20 is carried beyond the apex of cam 22, and as soon as this takes place the pressure of the spring upon the lower surface of the cam 22 forces the-forward end ofthe lever 12 up to the 'position shown in Fig. l, thereby completely 4withdrawingthelifter. It will be observed that Athe'spring 20'is thus made to supplement the `action of the hand-lever upon thelifter ,in both directions, for as soon as the-spring is carried `beyond ythe apex of the cam 22 in either'direovtionit actsinstantlyzto propel the lever 12, to

which it is attached. Said spring serves also lto retain the lever l12 in position, up or down,

when not acted upon by the hand-lever. Thus it will be seen the entire cartridge-feeding mechanism is composed of -but four piecesthe plate 1, lever 12,"spring '20, and lifter N` co-operating with the ha'ndileverandcarrier, as described. Y

The vlocking 'devicesshown for yholding and releasing'the carrier `are similar in construction and operation `to those described in my prior patent, with the exception of the locking-lever G',whose rear end 1s formed with a hook, 10, whose poi-nt -co-operates with a hook or shoulder,-8, on the hand-lever, instead of with its rounded end, as in my prior patent,- the reversed inclines on the hooks 10 and 8 serving,when the hand-lever is first depressed,

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to raise the rear and depress the front end of said locking-lever Gmuch qnicker,and thereby unlock the carrier with but a slight movement of the handflever.

The cartridges are inserted or fed into the magazine through a slot or opening, S, in the side of the carrier, Figs. 3 and 5, and a corresponding slot or opening, 4l, in the side of the breech-frame. At or near the forward end of the slot 4l is secured a spring or springpressed plate, 42. This plate 42 extends back and covers a portion only of the slot 41, sufficient space being left for the ready insertion ot' the end of a cartridge, and to facilitate this operation the rear or free end of the opening is bent or curved outward,while the inner face, or that next the carrier, serves, when the plate is pressed inward, to partially close the slot 40 in the carrier and direct the cartridge or cartridges therein onto the lifter N. Over the slot 4l is tted a plate, 44, pivotally attached to the breech-frame at 45, and provided with a projecting plate or rib, 46, fitting, when down, between undercut guides 47, and said rib 46 also engages the spring 42 to press and hold the latter inward. The pivot 45, upon which this plate 44 is mounted ,extends through the breech-frame and carries on its inner end a cam or lever, 48, projected within a slot or groove, 49, formed in the side of the carrier, so that when the carrier is retracted the front wall or equivalent portion of the slot 49, by striking against said cam or lever 48, will force the plate 44 down and into position to cover the feeding-opening in the side of the breechframe. By this means not only is the closing ofthe plate insured when the carrier is retracted, but the pin 45 serves as a stop for limiting the rearward movement of the carricr.

At the rear end of the lifter N is formed a notch or shoulder, 50, to receive and ac commodate the flange ot the cart-ridge, and on the opposite sides of the face of the breech-block are formed vertical guides 51 to receive and guide the flanged head of the cartridge, and thus prevent it from tilting or turning laterally while being elevated. ln the face of the breechblock is formed a recess, 52, for the reception of a pivoted presser, 54, provided with an opening for the firingpin 55, between which and the said presser 54 is interposed the spring 56. On top of the breech-block is secured a spring, 57, whosey front end overhangs the face of the breechblock and is provided with a catch, 58. The action of these parts is as follows: Vhen the breech-block is closed and the lifter down, the rear cartridge in the magazine or carrier will be forced backward over the lifter until the flange at the head falls into the recess or be low the end of the litter. The hand-lever being now operated to retract the carrier, as soon as the toe 11 engages and forces down the lever l2 the lifter is elevated, carrying the cartridge up in front of the breech-block.

As the cartridge emerges from within the.

carrier it is supported by the guides 5l,which engage the iiange of the head at the sides at the same time the presser 54 is forced back :into the recess in the face of the breech-block. The guiding-anges 5l expand or widen near the top, so that as the cartridge is brought into position in front of the barrel its flanged head will-p ass from under the guides 51 and enter behind the hook or catch 58. The cartridge is now supported against lrhe lface of the breech-block and in line with the base of the barrel by the lilter N and the catch 58 of the extractor, the presser 54 operating against the head to hold the ange ofthe cartridge pressed against the end of the lifter and the bullet elevated to the level of the bore.

As before remarked, in drawing the handlever back the carrier is advanced slightly before the lifter begins to descend, so that the cartridge will be securely held until the front end has been inserted in the barrel, and when this has been done and the lifter descends the rear end of the cartridge is supported and prevented from falling by the presser acting against the head in a direction tending to tilt the cartridge upward.

The extractor 58 retains its hold on the flange of the cartridge while the latter remains in the barrel and after the breech-block has been closed, so that when the carrier is retracted the shell or cartridge will at the same time be Withdrawn by the extractor 58, and will be removed or thrown olf by tlie presser 54, which latter acts against the head of the shell in a direction to tilt it upward, andthus withdraw it from under the extractor.

Although the presser cooperating with the extractor as described may be employed for ejecting the shells, other more prompt and effective means are provided, consisting of the vertically-moving lifter N, which latter, as its spring 2O passes the apex of cam 22, is thrown suddenly upward, and the cartridge carried by the lifter, or the lifter itself striking the shell, throws tmhe latter out entirely clear of the gun.

As will readily be understood, the gun can be used either as a magazine or a breech loader, and when employed as a breech-loader alone the cartridges can be inserted either through the opening inthe side of the breechframe or directly in the barrel.

If while the magazine is charged it should be desired to load direct without drawing upon the magazine, by turning the plate 44 up, and thereby advancing the point of the arm or cam 48, the rearward movement of the carrier can be arrested just before the toe l1 of the handlever operates to depress the end 13 of lever 12, at which time the breech-block will have been retracted sufficiently to permit of the `Withdrawal or insertion of a cartridge, while the lifter N and the cartridge lying upon it will remain down in position to be elevated and inserted whenever the carrier is pressed back beyond the point indicated, which can be done, even whenplate 44 is elevated, by the IOO IIO

application of sufficient power to the handlever to force the said plate 44 down, as before vdescribed.

Among the numerous and by no means least important advantages and benefits secured by the construction shown and described may be mentioned the simplicity and durability ofthe working mechanism, therelatively small number'of parts employed, and their arrangement land combination in a manner tending. to reduce to the minimum all liability of breakage, cramping, or any other derangement of the parts such as would interfere with or prevent their proper action. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isl. The combination,'with the barrel, reciprocating carrier, and the handlever connected plate secured rigidly to the under side of the carrier, having the rearwardly-inclined slot, and the pin carried by the hand-lever co-operating with the slot in the plate to slide the carrier when the hand-lever is moved on its pivot, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the breech-frame,

the barrel, and a reciprocating carrier provided with a breech-block, the slotted plate secured to the carrier, the lever carrying the lifter lpivoted upon the carrier, and the hand-lever pivoted in the breech-frame, the end of said handlever being provided with a pin working in the slotted plate, and atoe or projection for engaging the lever carrying the 'lift-er, substantially asdescribed; ,A y

4. In combination with the breech-frame, barrel, reci procatingcarrier,and breech-block, the bifurcated lockinglever D, the slotted plate 1, secured beneath the carrier, the lever 12, carrying the lifter N and spring 20, whose free end. engages the cani 22 on the carrier, and

` the hand-lever pivoted in the breech-frame below the carrier and provided with a pin for engaging the slotted plate, and a toe or projection for co-operating with the lever 12, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a gun such as described, the combination, with the breech-frame, barrel, and longitudinally-perforated carrier, of the lifter N, supported loosely upon a lever, 12, pivoted beneath the carrier, a hand-lever co-operating with said lever 12 to oscillate the latter, and

thus reciprocate thejlifter, and a spring, 20,'

engaging a cam, 22, forming a connection between the lever and Athe carrier and operating to propel the lifter at Vor near the end of its stroke, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the breech-frame, barrel, carrier, and breech-block, the slotted plate l, secured beneath the carrier, the lever l2, pivotally-supported between lugs on the combination, `with the barrel, of the lifter N, recessed on its under surface and tittedto the- ,curved end of a pivoted lever, 1 2, thespring 20, carried by said lever and arranged to engage a double-faced c'am or projection, 22, on the carrier, and a lever adapted to engage and force said lever 12 in opposite directions alternately to elevate or depress the lifter, and in so doing to cause the spring 20 to pass the apex of the cam 22 and throw the lever up or down, substantially as described.

8. In combination with the breech-frame, barrel, reciprocating carrier, and its breechblock,andthecartridge-lifter workinginguides inthe carrier and supported upon a lever, 12,

pivoted beneath the carrier, the slotted plate l, secured to the carrier, the locking-levers G and D, supportedin the breechframe and engaging the carrier,- and the hand-lever vpivoted in the breech-frame andprovided with a pin cooperating with slotted plate 1, and projections engaging the locking-levers Gr and D,

and the lever l2, carrying the lifter, substan- .the insertion of cartridges, and in combination with said carrier and the breech-frame, also provided with an opening such as described above, the spring-plate fastened to the breechframe and occupying the front portion of the opening therein, the rear end of said spring being bent or curved outward, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In combination with the breech'fram'e and reciprocating carrier, each provided with a slotor opening in the side for the insertion of cartridges within the carrier, the .springplate and-pivoted outer plate securedto the breech-frame, the latter formed with an ineline vadapted to press the former inward when closed, substantially as described.

12. In combination with the breech-frame IOS IIO

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and reciprocating carrier, each provided with an opening suchas described for the inser- `tion of cartridges, a cover orplate for thev opening in the breech-frame, said cover or plate being connected to an arm or cam in line With a projection on the carrier, whereby as the carrier is retracted said arm will be engaged to arrest the movement of the carrier or close the cover down over the feed-orifice, substantially as set forth.

13. In combination With the breech-frame and reciprocating carrier, both provided With an orice or slot in the side to permit the insertion of cartridges, the cover or plate pivoted on the outside of the breech-frame, and with an arm or cam attached to the pivot, said arm or cam co-operating with a shoulder or the Wall of a recess in the carrier, as and for the purpose set forth.

14. In combination with the reciprocating carrier and the breech-frame, both provided with a slot or opening for the admission of cartridges, the spring-plate 42, and the pivoted outer plate, 44, provided With a rib, 46, fitted to engage guides on the breech-frame, substantially as described.

15. In combination With the breech-frame and a carrier reciprocating therein, each provided with a slot or opening in the side, as described, the pivot 45, passing through the side of the breech-fran1e and connected at one end to a plate or cover, 44, and at the other to a cam or lever, 48, the latter so arranged as to be engaged by thefront wall of a slot in the side of the carrier when the plate 44 is elevated, and operating to depress or close the latter, substantially as described.

16. In a gun such as described, and in combination with the barrel, breech-frarne, and reciprocating breech-block provided With the extractor and spring-operated presser, the vertically-reciprocating lifter N, a lever for actuating said lifter, and a spring operating to throw the lifter quickly upward to eject the shell when withdrawn by the extractor, substantially as described.

PETER A. ALTMAIER.

Witnesses:

EUGENE SNYDER, D. F. BLEssINe. 

